25 animal cruelty cases filed in recent weeks, L.A. County DA says
The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office announced it is pursuing 25 new animal cruelty cases, including 18 felonies filed over the last six weeks.
The cases, according to D.A. Nathan Hochman, highlight his office's attempts to bring to justice those accused of violently abusing animals.
On Tuesday, Hochman held a press conference alongside local law enforcement leaders and members of the D.A.'s Office investigatory team to announce the charges in the various cases.
'If you harm an animal in our community, we are watching you — and we will find you,' Hochman said in a release issued Tuesday afternoon. 'Animal cruelty is a serious crime. It's also a red flag for possible future violence and we treat it exactly as it should be treated — with zero tolerance and aggressive prosecution.'
Among those charged with felony animal cruelty are:
Esteban Garcia, 28, who is accused of dropping a dog on her head, kicking her, and then throwing her into a stack of tires 'where she was left to die.' The dog, a 5-year-old bulldog named Adriana, survived and is receiving care by the Animal Assistance League of Orange County. It was later revealed the dog had illegal drugs in her system.
Joseph Melnyk, 51, is accused of throwing his girlfriend's 4-year-old terrier mix off of a balcony at her Hollywood apartment during a domestic dispute. The dog, Charlie, died from its injuries and, and a medical examination determined the dog suffered previous abuse. This crime, Hochman's office said, is an example of animal cruelty coming as an extension of domestic violence.
Marc Ibanez, 27, is accused of dragging a dog behind a business in Santa Fe Springs and stabbing it with a sharp object. The dog, a 9-year-old German shepherd named Leo, suffered lacerations to its forehead and chest. A 13-inch piece of glass with dog hair embedded in it was found near the scene.
Micheala Urquidi, 22, is accused of strangling a 2-year-old American Bully that he was pet-sitting at a home in San Fernando. The dog, Chula, was found dead inside the home by its owners.
Blaise Prymmer, 23, is accused of trying to hang his family's dog at their La Verne home. Unsuccessful, he then beat the dog, an older corgi/chihuahua mix named Hope, with a crowbar until she died. He told authorities that the dog's barking was preventing him from sleeping.
Emmanuel Perdomo, 43, was charged with felony counts of animal cruelty and arson, for allegedly setting fire to an animal cage with a cat inside, then disposing the the animal's body, kicking it and photographing it.
Miguel Abadmunoz, 44, is accused of using a butane torch to set a 10-year-old Siamese cat on fire in the Pico-Union neighborhood. The cat was later euthanized due to the severity of its injuries.
Arturo Morales, 55, is accused of running a cockfighting ring out of his backyard. Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputies discovered a bag of dead roosters, including one with a blade attached to its leg, along with multiple cages labeled with names and weights, but no food or water. Nearby, a refrigerator containing 'hematopoietic stimulant' was found, officials said. Fighting chickens are often injected with stimulants to enhance their aggression, according to the Animal Legal and Historical Center.
Donald Jeffes, 40, was charged with felony animal cruelty on April 21, after surveillance cameras inside a downtown L.A. apartment building captured him allegedly carrying his dog, Rusty, by the collar and whipping him several times with a metal chain.
Alexander Cueva, 28, faces charges for felony animal cruelty after video appeared to show him dragging his young German Shepherd mix by the neck, slamming her to the pavement and the kicking her in the face as she lay motionless. He's then seen riding away on his skateboard and dragging the dog out of frame.
These felony cases were all investigated by local law enforcement agencies, and potential sentences range from three years in county jail to as many as 13 years in state prison.
'Our Department is working closely with Los Angeles County Animal Control, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office, and community partners to ensure all cases of animal cruelty are fully investigated and prosecuted,' Sheriff Robert Luna added.
LAPD Deputy Chief Alan Hamilton said investigators pursue animal cruelty cases with 'integrity and intensity.'
'Despite the loss of our Animal Cruelty Task Force in early 2021, we take animal cruelty investigations seriously, and we investigate these cases in a manner that lead to the successful arrests and prosecutions of the alleged suspects,' Hamilton said.
Those who witness serious instances of animal abuse are urged to call 911 and file a report. Otherwise, reports can be made by contacting your local animal services agency or law enforcement agency's non-emergency line.
Additional information about the various types of animal cruelty, and how to recognize and report them, can be found here.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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